Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/899

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 777

into two or more constituencies. In 1901 there were 10,863,421 inscribed electors; in 1898 there were 10,231,532, and 7,657,429 voted.

Chamber of Deputies, elected May, 1910 :— Radicals, 113, Radical- Socialists, 150, Democratic Left, 72, Organised Socialists, 75, Progres- sionists, 76, Independent-Socialists, 34, Action Liboralc, 32, Right, 21, Independent, 24,

The Senate is composed of 300 members, elected for nine years from citizens 40 years old, one-third retiring every three years. The election of the Senators is indirect, and is made by an electoral body composed (1) of delegates chosen by the Municipal Council of each commune in proportion to the population ; and (2) of the Deputies, Councillors-General, and District Councillors of the department. Besides the 225 Departmental Senators elected in this way, there were, according to the law of 1875, 75 Senators elected for life by the united two Chambers ; but by the Senate Bill of 1884 it was enacted that vacancies arising among the Life Senatorships would be tilled by the election of ordinary nine-years Senators, the department which should have the right to the vacant seat to be determined by lot. The Princes of deposed dynasties are precluded from sitting in either House.

The Senate and Chamber of Deputies assemble every year on the second Tuesday in January, unless a previous summons is made by the President of the Republic, and they must remain in session at least five months out of the twelve. The President is bound to convoke them if the demand is made by one-half of the number of members composing each Chamber. The President can adjourn the Chambers, but the adjournment cannot exceed the term of a month, nor occur more than twice in the same session.

Bills may be presented either in the Chamber or Senate by the Government, or on the initiative of private members. In the first case they are remitted to the bureaux for examination ; in the second, they are" first submitted to a commission of parliamentary initiative. Financial laws must be first presented to and voted by the Chamber of Deputies.

The Senate, constitnted as a High Court of Justice, tries cases of attempt against the safety of the State or of plotting to change the form of government.

Senators and Deputies are paid 15,000 francs (600Z.) a year from January 1, 1907, and the Presidents of the two Chambers receive, in addition, 72,000 francs (2,840Z.) for the expense of entertainment. Members of both Chambers travel free on all railways by means of a small annual payment. The dotation of the President of the Republic is 600,000 francs (24,000Z.), with a further allowance of 600,000 francs for his expenses. On January 1, 1905, a fund was instituted for pensions to ex- Deputies, or their widows and orphans. It is supported by contri- butions from Deputies (deducted from their pay) as well as by gifts and legacies.

France has, besides, a special institution under the name of Conscil fVMat, which was introduced by Napoleon I., and has been maintained since. It is presided over by the Minister of Justice or (in his absence) by a vice-president, and is composed of Councillors, Masters of Requests (Maitres des Requetes), and Auditors, all appointed by the President of the Republic. Its duty is to give opinion upon such questions, chiefly those connected with administration, as may be submitted to it by the Government. It is judge in the last resort in administrative snits, and it prepares the rules for the public administration.